Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz on Saturday said the country received an unprecedented monsoon rainfall and the Authority keeping in view the recent spell in Sindh has sent a special relief package to its flood-affected areas.
Addressing the ceremony for relief assistance being dispatched to flood-hit areas of Sindh, the NDMA Chairman said the monsoon rains this season were 150% above normal than the past 30 years recorded average of the country.
He said in order to ensure rescue activities, the civil administration, the Armed Forces, all emergency departments including DDMA, PDMA, NDMA and public worked together to evacuate masses to safer places. He said the provinces had their own resources for relief and should possess it in excess whereas the federal government assisted them in crises as it did earlier and would continue as per the provinces’ requirement.
“NHA is trying to expedite restoration work of national link routes to ensure connectivity which is going at a faster pace.”
He added that the rains had inflicted huge life, property and livestock losses amid a heavy rain spell that prevailed in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.
In next 24 to 36 hours, he said a new spell forecast to cause further rains in eastern Balochistan, South Punjab and Sindh.
According to the NDMA, it continued to provide emergency assistance to the flood victims including relief materials for the affected areas of Sindh.
Some 35 trucks left for Sindh carrying ration bags that would meet the needs of 84,000 for 7 days. Besides this, 24 trucks carrying tents, tarpaulins and mosquito nets were sent to Sindh that would provide shelter to 28,000 victims.
